Switch to what's app?

littlerock

My son is agitating for me to give up using SMS messaging on my phone, and replace it with What's App. What are the pros and cons?

cookie365

Pros: no message length limit, can attach files like videos and images, group chat, no charge if you have data included in your plan, makes no difference where in the world your contact is, your whatsapp follows you whatever phone you're using

Cons: you can only whatsapp other whatsapp users, if you don't have a data plan or are on wifi you'll need to pay data charges.

ThemeOne

Another con is whatsapp is ending support (i.e. it stops working) for Blackberry, and some older Windows and Android OS's - might affect you might not, though apparently Blackberry users have now got a last minute reprieve until this summer.

thescouselander

Whatsapp is the way to go. As above no message length limit and you can send pictures and videos more easily and cheaply. Theres also end to end encryption and you can have groups if you want to converse between several people.

Why anyone would still use SMS is beyond me.

forgotmyname

Surprised nobody mentioned that facebook own it and despite swearing in court that they have no means to attach phone numbers on whatsapp to facebook users they suddenly found out they now can do that...

Amazing that.

RumRat

Use Whatsapp for family and any friends that may be on it and normal texting for anything else.....Using one doesn't preclude the other.

Anne_Marie_2

I like that you can also have it on your computer (so long as it's on your phone too). Great for video, photos as well as messages. I tend to use it over wifi rather than mobile data, so doesn't cost any more than already paying for internet connection.
Not found any cons so far.

dipsomaniac

its what the term 'no brainer' was invented for

AndyPix

It doesnt have to be one or the other.
Use Whatsapp when it suits and sms when it doesnt (ie the receiver doesnt have it)

neilmcl

AndyPix wrote: »

It doesnt have to be one or the other.
Use Whatsapp when it suits and sms when it doesnt (ie the receiver doesnt have it)

^^This. I don't have a data contract so always have issues sending or receiving MMS, I'll use Whatsapp over wifi to send/receive images and then sms for standard texts.

Anne_Marie_2

Agree with AndyPix and NeilMcl, you can use both.I don't have a data package on my phone either, so prefer to use WhatsApp over wifi, but if no wifi, send SMS.
Another advantage in being able to use WhatsApp for messaging friends and family abroad, so there is far more contact, as we don't always have time for Skype/Facetime calls. Before that, we really did not send text messages due to the cost, unless it was something urgent.